Method of elevating a load and lift apparatus therefor



March 7, 1967 B. H. FRIEDMAN METHOD OF ELEVATING A LOAD AND LIFT APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed oct. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG M O 2 mmzvw 6 Wm n H m A 4 w W 3 M 2 m 4 B w 0 4 m 4 4 I 6 5 8 w 4 Mau O2, 4 2 4 4 .0 omw 14 w k 0 5,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 7, 1967 B. H. FRIEDMAN METHOD OF ELEVATING A LOAD AND LIFT APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 5, 1965 United States Patent 3,307,831 METHOD OF ELEVATING A LOAD AND LIFT APPARATUS THEREFOR Bernard H. Friedman, 4 Sadore Lane, Yonkers, N.Y. 10710 Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,107 13 Claims. (Cl. 254150) This invention relates to a method of moving a load to and from a raised or elevated position and to a lift apparatus therefor.

It has been found that in many cases it is more advantageous to raise and then suspend loads, such as air conditioners, boilers and the like, from an overhead support surface rather than to mount and bolt the same on alloor. However, many problems are encountered in attempting to elevate and also maintain the load stationary in its raised position while trying to permanently aifix it in place. For example, if a conventional chain hoist is utilized to raise the load, the load tends to sway. While a fork-lift truck maintains a load in a stationary raised position, the use of such a device is limited to rather large areas in which a truck can maneuver easily. Moreover, it is extremely uneconomical to move a forklift truck from installation to installation. While other types of hoist mechanisms are available, each type has some disadvantage associated with its use. That is, a mechanism may require more than one operator or it may be too bulky to be transported.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby a load may be raised or lowered to or from an elevated position and, during the process, secured in its elevated position or released therefrom to facilitate its lowering.

In carrying out the method of the invention, an object is to provide a self contained lift apparatus which can be utilized to either raise or lower the load without the need for unattached cumbersome structures.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide a compact, efficient lift apparatus for raising or lowering a load. Accordingly, a feature of the invention resides in the novel details in which the compactness of the apparatus makes it ideally suitable for use in cramped locations, in addition to the fact that the device can be transported easily from location to location.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lift apparatus including operating means to raise and lower a load, and support means for supporting the load in the raised position. Thus, the operating means can be removed and used elsewhere while the load is maintained in the raised position. The support meansmay be utilized to permanently afiix the load in place or the support means may be used to temporarily retain the load in the raised position while the load is permanently afiixed in place by other means. Moreover, since the support means is used to support the load, the operating means may be used elsewhere to raise another load. Accordingly, the need for more than one operating means thereby is eliminated. Consequently, a great saving in cost is obtained.

Other and further objects of this invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of the lift apparatus constructed according to the present invention, with a portion of the load shown for illustrative purposes,

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, with part of the load broken away, showing the raising of the load by the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, with part of the load broken away, showing the load in the raised position, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View, with part of the load broken away, showing the load in the secured position,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, with part of the load broken away, showing the load secured in the raised position and the lift mechanism in the lowered position,

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a modified em bodiment of a lift apparatus constructed according to the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the hanger portion of the lift apparatus of the present invention,

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the hanger portion of the lift apparatus prior to the connection of a cable thereto, and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the hanger shown in FIG. 8 with the cable connected thereto.

In a sense, the apparatus of the present invention includes a fixed overhead hanger that is connected to an overhead support surface and a cable depending therefrom. A reel mechanism is connected to the cable and is selectively operable to move up and down the cable. Means are provided on the reel mechanism to engage a load to raise and lower the load. The reel mechanism includes braking means which maintains the reel mechanism in any desired position when it is not operated. Support means are provided, engageable with the load and the hanger, for releasably retaining the load in the raised position so that the load may be permanently aflixed in place albeit the reel mechanism is lowered. The reel mechanism may be used elsewhere to elevate another load thereby eliminating the need for a number of such mechanisms.

More particularly, a first embodiment of the lift apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 and comprises, in part, an overhead hanger 10. The hanger 10 includes a shaft or rigid member 12 that is affixed to an overhead support member or surface 14 (such as a ceiling), to which a load L is to be connected in any conventional manner. The shaft 12 includes a lower threaded portion 16. A bushing 18 is provided with a threaded central through bore 20 which threadedly receives the portion 16 therethrough so that the bottom of the shaft 12 extends below the bottom edge of the bushing. The top of the bushing 18 may terminate in a radially outwardly extending integral flange 22. The external surface of the bushing 18 is threaded for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

The hanger 10 further includes a cable connecting member 24 having a through passage 26. The diameter of the member 24 is smaller than the external diameter of the bushing 18. The upper section of the passage 26 is threaded and threadedly receives the portion of the shaft 12 extending below the bushing 18. The bottom section of the passage 26 is constricted and receives a cable 28 therein. The upper end of the cable 28 is provided with an enlarged head 30 that is sized and positioned so that the head 30 cannot pass through the constricted lower section of the passage 26. However, the head 30 is movable with respect to the member 24 so that the cable 28 has a swivel movement with respect to the hanger 10.

The lower end of the cable 28 is connected to a conventional reel mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 32. The reel mechanism 32 includes a housing 34 having top, bottom, front, rear and side walls. The top wall of the housing 34 is provided with an aperture 36 through which the cable 28 passes. -The aperture 36 is sized to allow the member 24 to pass therethrough without touching the wall defining the aperture (FIG. 3).

Received within the housing 34 is a rotatable reel or drum 38 that is connected to the cable 28. A reversible drive mechanism or motor 40 is similarly received within the housing 34. The output shaft of the motor 40 is connected in driving relation to the reel 38 by a belt 42 and a pulley 44 that is rigidly connected to the drum or reel 38. The motor 40 is adapted to be selectively energized by means (not shown) to rotate the reel 38 in one direction to wind the cable 28 thereabout or to rotate the reel 38 in the opposite direction to unwind the cable therefrom. Thus, as the cable 28 is wound about the reel 38, the reel mechanism 32 moves up to the cable. As the cable 28 is unwound from the reel 38, the mechanism 32 moves down the cable.

A load L is provided with a lateral extension 46 which has a through bore 48 therein through which the cable 28 passes. The diameter of the bore 48 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bushing 18 but is smaller than the diameter of the flange 22 so that the bushing may be easily received through the bore 48 but the flange 22 will abut the upper surface of the extension 46.

Fixedly mounted on the top wall of the housing 34 is an upstanding circular wall that defines a sleeve or spacer 50. The sleeve 50 is coaxial with the aperture 36 and has a larger diameter than the aperture 36 so that the sleeve essentially surrounds the aperture. The top edge of the sleeve 50 is adapted to engage the undersurface of the extension 46 of the load L to maintain the load in spaced relation to the reel mechanism 32 and to move the load in the same direction of movement as that of the mechanism. Provided in the wall of the sleeve 50 is an opening 52 which communicates with the hollow interior of the sleeve.

Supported by the top Wall of the housing 34 and loosely received within the sleeve 58 is an internally threaded nut or support member 54 that is adapted to threadedly engage the externally threaded portion of the bushing 18. Additionally, the nut 54 is sized to bear against and support the bottom surface of the extension 46 when the nut is received on the bushing 18.

The sequential operation of the lift apparatus of the present invention, when utilized to elevate a load so that the load may be permanently connected to the overhead support surface or member 14, is illustrated in FIGS. 25. The shaft 12 is suspendingly affixed to the member 14 in any conventional manner so that the shaft is stationary. The bushing 18 is then threaded on the threaded portion 16 of the shaft 12 until the top of the bushing is spaced below the member 14 a predetermined distance and the shaft 12 extends below the bottom of the bushing. The reel mechanism 32 is positioned below the load L so that the aperture 36 is in registry with the bore 48 and the top edge of the sleeve 50 abuts the lower surface of the load. The connecting member 24, with the cable 28 attached thereto, is passed up through the aperture 36, the nut 54, the sleeve 50 and the bore 48 and is threaded on the shaft 12. In practice, the lift apparatus is positioned so that the cable 28 is coaxial with respect to the elements that it extends through.

Initially, the lift apparatus of the present invention appears as shown in FIG. 2. The motor 40 is energized so that the reel 38 winds cable 28 thereabout. Accordingly, the reel mechanism 32 moves up the cable 28 so that the upper edge of the sleeve 50 engages and moves the load L in the same direction that the mechanism 32 travels. When the upper surface of the load L abuts the lower surface of the flange 22, the motor is de-energized (FIG. 3). It is to be understood that the reel mechanism 32 may include a brake means therein that prevents movement of the mechanism relative to the cable 28 when the motor 40 is de-energized.

After elevating the load L, the operator grasps the nut 54 through the opening 52 in the sleeve 50, either with his hand or a suitable tool, and slides the nut over the cable connecting member 24 and manually threadedly engages the nut 54 on the externally threaded portion of the bushing 18 until the upper surface of the nut bears against the lower surface of the load L (FIG. 4). Accordingly, the load L is clamped between the nut 54 and the flange 22. The motor 40 is again energized to cause the reel 38 to unwind the cable 28 so that the reel mechanism is lowered (FIG. 5). The connecting member 24 may then be disengaged from the shaft 12 while the load L remains clamped in the raised position. Thus, the load L now may be permanently aflixed in place while the reel mechanism 32, the cable 28 and the connecting member 24- are used elsewhere to elevate or lower another load. If desired, the shaft 12, the bushing 18 and the nut 54 may be removed after the load L is permanently installed. Alternatively, these three elements may be used to permanently retain the load in position. Moreover, if the load L is bulky or heavy, a plurality of lifting apparatuses of the type described may be used to elevate the load. It will now become obvious that the procedure described above may be reversed to lower a load.

Accordingly, a lift apparatus has been described which is simple to operate, which can be used in cramped quarters, and which temporarily retains a load in a raised position so that the load may be permanently aflixed in position.

Depending upon the configuration of the load, it may not be practicable to utilize the reel mechanism 32 and the sleeve 50 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. Accordingly, FIG. 6 illustrates a different lift apparatus that includes a reel mechanism 132 that is laterally offset from a load L which is provided with a recessed or walled portion 149. More particularly, the reel mechanism 132, being of conventional construction, includes a housing 134 having top, bottom, front, rear and side walls. One of the side walls of the housing 134 is provided with an aperture .136. Integral with and extending laterally from the side wall and surrounding the aperture 135 is a sleeve 151 that terminates in an upturned portion 151. The upper edge of the portion 151 is adapted to engage the lower surface of the load L, thereby to move the load L in the same manner that the sleeve 58 moves the load L.

The reel mechanism 132 further includes a motor 140, a reel 1 3 8, a pulley 1'44 and a driving belt 142, which correspond to the similar elements in the housing 34 and which operate in the same manner. A cable \128 extends through a bore 148 in the load L and about an idler pulley 156 in the sleeve 15%) and is connected to the drum or reel 138. The pulley 1-56 maintains the cable 128 approximately centrally located with-in the sleeve 1 50. An internally threaded nut 154 is received in the upturned portion 151 of the sleeve 1'51 and normally rests upon a laterally extending ledge 153 that is connected to the sleeve. The upturned portion 151 is provided with an opening 152 so that the operator may have access to the nut. The upper end of the cable 128 may be connected to a hanger similar to the hanger 10 in which case the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the hanger. Thus, the hanger, designated generally by the reference character 218, includes a shaft 212, having a lower threaded portion 216, that is affixed to the overhead support surface or member 14 by any conventional means. Extending axially upwardly from the bottom wall of the shaft 212 is an internally threaded axially extending passage 217. An externally threaded cylindrical cable connecting member 224 is threadedly engaged in the passage 217. The member 2-24 is provided with an axial passage that is constricted at the lower end similar to the member 24. A cable 128 is received in this passage and is provided with an enlarged head 230 that is sized to move freely in the upper axial passage in the member 224 but cannot pass through the constricted section of the passage. An internally threaded nut 254 is adapted to threadedly engage the portion 216 of the shaft 212 thereby to support a load (not shown in FIG. 7).

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another modified embodiment of a hanger and is designated generally by the numeral 310. The hanger 310 is similar to the hanger 10 in that it includes a shaft :12 connected to the member 14 and a bushing 18 threaded on the shaft 12. However, instead of the cable connecting member 24, a connecting member 324 is provided. The member 324 comprises a tube having the diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the bushing 18 and an internally axial through bore 325 that receives the shaft 12 in threaded engagement. The cable 28 is provided with a threaded collar 330 at its upper end which is adapted to be threadedly engaged in the bore 325.

In operation, the shaft 1 2 is affixed to the member 14 and the bushing 18 and the tube 324 are threaded on the threaded portion 1 6 of the shaft 12 with the upper edge of the tube 324 abutting lower surface of the bushing (FIG. 8). The cable- 28 is passed through the various elements noted above and the collar 330 is threaded into the bore 325 by rotating the tube 324 relative to the shaft 12 and the collar 3'30 thereby to connect the cable to the shaft (FIG. 9). After elevating the load (not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), the nut 54 is slid over the tube 324 and is threadedly engaged on the externally threaded portion of the bushing 18 to clamp the load in place.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An apparatus to raise and lower a load comprising a fixed overhead hanger,

first means depending from said hanger,

operating means connected to said first means and being selectively operable to move up and down said first means,

spacing means mounted on said operating means and adapted to abut the load for moving the load in the same direction as that of the operating means,

and support means on said operating means engageable with said hanger and the load for releasably supporting the load in a raised position,

said fixed overhead hanger including a threaded portion, and said support means comprising a complementary threaded nut adapted to threadedly engage the threaded portion of said hanger.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein said spacing means comprises an upstanding wall defining a sleeve loosely receiving the nut therein,

and an aperture in said wall sized and positioned to allow an operator to manually threadedly engage the nut on the threaded portion of said hanger and to move the nut therefrom.

3. An apparatus as in claim .1,

wherein said hanger further includes a bushing having said threaded portion,

said bushing having means at one end thereof, whereby said nut is adapted to threadedly engage the threaded portion of said 'bushing to releasably clamp the load between said nut and said means at said one end.

4. A lift device for raising and lowering a load to and from an overhead surface comprising a hanger affixed to said overhead surface,

a cable depending from said hanger,

reel means connected with said cable and being selectively operable to move up and down the same,

spacing means on said reel means and adapted to operatively engage the load for moving the load in the same direction of movement as that of said reel means,

said spacing means being hollow and having an opening defined therein to provide access to the hollow interior thereof,

and support means received within the hollow of said spacing means and engageable with said hanger and the load for releasably supporting the load in a raised position.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4,

wherein said hanger is provided with an external threaded portion,

and said support means comprises an internally threaded nut adapted to abut the undersurface of the load and to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the hanger to retain the load affixed thereto in a raised position.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5,

wherein said spacing means comprises an upstanding wall defining a sleeve receiving the nut therein,

and said opening is sized to allow an operator to manually threadedly engage the nut with the threaded por tion of said hanger and to remove said nut there from.

7. An apparatus to raise and lower a load to and from an elevated surface comprising a hanger affixed to the elevated surface and having first engaging means thereon,

a cable depending from said hanger,

reel means connected with said cable and being selectively operable to move up and down along said cable to move the load to and from said elevated surface,

said reel means including a housing having a top wall provided with an aperture for receiving the cable therethrough,

a spacer on said top wall in surrounding relation to said aperture and being adapted to abut the undersurrface of the load for moving the load along said cable in the same direction of movement as that of said reel means, I

and support means having second engaging means thereon being manually accessible through said spacer to be engaged with said first engaging means and the load to releasably retain the load from movement relative to the elevated surface when the load is moved thereto.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7,

wherein said hanger includes a shaft having a threaded portion,

a bushing having said first engaging means thereon,

said first engaging means being an external thread,

said bushing having a top radially extending flange and a threaded central through bore in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of said shaft,

and swivel means threadedly engaged with said shaft depending from below said bushing and having a smaller diameter than said bushing for connecting said cable to said shaft for swivel movement with respect thereto, whereby said support means is adapted to move over said swivel means to engage the external threads of said bushing to releasably clamp the load between said support means and said flange.

9. Apparatus as in claim 7,

wherein said hanger including a shaft having said first engaging means thereon and an internally threaded passage,

said first engaging means being an externally threaded portion,

means threadedly received in said passage and having a smaller diameter than the external thread of said shaft for connecting said cable to said shaft for swivel movement with respect thereto, whereby said supporting means is adapted to be slid over said swivel means for threaded engagement with said externally threaded portion of said shaft.

10. Apparatus as in claim 7,

wherein said cable is provided with a threaded portion at the top thereof,

and wherein said hanger includes a shaft having a threaded portion,

a bushing having a top radially extending flange and a threaded central through bore in threaded engagement with the threaded portion of said shaft,

said first engaging means being an external thread on said bushing,

a tube having a smaller outer diameter than said external thread of said bushing and having a threaded central through bore for threaded engagement with the threaded portion of said shaft and said cable,

said support means comprising an internally threaded nut adapted to move over said tube and threadedly engage the external threads of said bushing to releasably clamp the load between the nut and the flange.

11. A lift apparatus for raising and lowering a load to and from an overhead support comprising a hanger connected to said overhead support,

a cable depending from said hanger,

reel means connected with said cable being selectively operable to move up and down the same,

spacing means on said reel means adapted to position the reel means laterally offset with respect to the load and being further adapted to abut the load for moving the load in the same direction of movement as that of the reel means,

and support means received within said spacing means engageable with said hanger and the load for releasably supporting the load in a raised position,

said hanger being provided with an externally threaded portion,

and said support means comprising an internally threaded nut adapted to abut the undersurface of the load and threadedly engage the threaded portion of the hanger to retain the load in a raised position.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11,

wherein said reel means includes a housing having a side wall provided with a through aperture which receives the cable therethrough,

and wherein said spacing means comprising a laterally extending sleeve surrounding said aperture and said cable terminating in an upturned portion adapted to abut the undersurface of the load,

and pulley meansiin said sleeve adapted to engage the cable to maintain the cable approximately centrally located throughout the length of said sleeve.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12,

wherein the upturned portion of said sleeve is provided with an aperture sized and positioned to provide access for an operator to manually threadedly engage the nut on the threaded portion of said hanger and to remove the nut therefrom.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,634,000 4/1953 Ulrich 254-168 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS TO RAISE AND LOWER A LOAD COMPRISING A FIXED OVERHEAD HANGER, FIRST MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID HANGER, OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST MEANS AND BEING SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN SAID FIRST MEANS, SPACING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID OPERATING MEANS AND ADAPTED TO ABUT THE LOAD FOR MOVING THE LOAD IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THAT OF THE OPERATING MEANS, 